October is a special month for folk-art aficionados as they mark the two-year anniversary of the death of folk-art icon Howard Finster, the prodigious preacher-turned-painter from Summerville, Ga. Each year, devotees visit his elaborate sculpture garden in Pennville, Ga., but other folk-art sites are just as popular, says Barry Bergey, director of Folk and Traditional Arts at the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C. "Folk and traditional arts are rooted in and reflective of the cultural life of a community," says Bergey, who shares his expertise with USA TODAY's Shawn Sell.

Cherokee Heritage Center Park Hill, Okla.

View rare pottery, paintings, weavings and basketry in this museum dedicated to preserving Cherokee history and culture. The Trail of Tears permanent exhibit chronicles the forced removal of Cherokee ancestors; the restored Tsa-La-Gi ancient village examines daily life. 918-456-6007; cherokeeheritage.org.

New England Quilt Museum Lowell, Mass.

From late 18th-century whole-cloth quilts to contemporary pieces, the museum showcases 150 quilts and quilt tops representing the history of American quiltmaking. The current exhibition, Let It Shine: Improvisation in African American Star Quilts, runs through Nov. 9. 978-452-4207; nequiltmuseum.org.

The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art Salisbury, Md.

Housed in two galleries, "the most comprehensive collection of wildfowl carvings in the world" preserves wildfowl art, an indigenous North American art form, from antique decoys to contemporary sculptures and painting. 410-742-4988; wardmuseum.org.

Along with exhibits showcasing such folk art as quilts, jewelry and toys, visitors learn about the influence of folk art on contemporary art through tours, programs, symposia and art workshops. Stop in to catch the current exhibition: Revealing Influences: Conversations with Bay Area Artists. 415-775-0991; sfcraftandfolk.org.

American Folk Art Museum New York City

In its new home in the heart of Manhattan, the AFAM "celebrates extraordinary accomplishments of ordinary people," highlighting the importance of folk art as a vital component of mainstream artistic expression. Compare 18th- and 19th-century paintings, quilts and sculptures with contemporary pieces made by self-taught artists. 212-265-1040; folkartmuseum.org.

Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts Salt Lake City

Contemporary folk art representing Utah today comes alive in this museum in the Chase House, once a 110-acre farm. Works of more than 80 artists in four exhibits (from native, ethnic, occupational and rural Utah) reside with crafts, music and dance. 801-533-5760; folkartsmuseum.org.

The Blue Ridge Parkway's Folk Art Center Asheville, N.C.

Highlighting the wealth of southern Appalachian crafts, the center, run by the Southern Highland Craft Guild, features 60 works by 20 artists including carving, beadwork, metal-smithing, ceramics and quilting. The guild's permanent collection houses 2,400 craft objects dating from the late 19th century to the present. 828-298-7928; southernhighlandguild.org.

Museum of International Folk Art Santa Fe

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the world's largest international folk art museum offers five galleries filled with whimsical toys, textiles, miniatures and folk and popular art from 100 different countries. 505-476-1200; moifa.org.

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum Williamsburg, Va.

Tucked into historic Colonial Williamsburg, the Folk Art Museum is the nation's leading center for folk-art preservation and research. Its broad collection, more than 3,000 folk-art objects including primitives, weather vanes, carvings, toys and whirligigs, represents diverse regions and cultural traditions. 800-447-8679; colonialwilliamsburg.org.